Jonas Vingegaard has never started an elite mens World Championship road race. Yet Denmark national coach Michael Morkov says the 2027 edition in Sallanches has been on the Danes radar for years. For a rider whose senior career has been dominated by Grand Tours, it would represent unfamiliar terri...

The mechanical watch-inspired Omata cycling computer is back in limited numbers, thanks to its acquisition by Silca. Unique for its traditional analog watch-style display, backed by high-tech GPS and connected sensor tracking inside, the Omata cycling computer is probably the classiest way to track your ride and one of the more expensive. It also happens to probably be the only way to stay on top of your ride metrics without staring at a screen.Its totally niche. So, it completely makes sense that Silca would be the one to snap it up to re-issue it to discerning cyclists.Omata by Silca: analog cycling computer to reduce screentimeIts been a decade since we first saw the Omata already expensive back then as a Kickstarter campaign. And this is definitely still a niche cycling computer. Pretty much every other GPS and ride tracking computer has gone the way of bigger, more vivid displays, touchscreens, haptic buttons, voice control, and even solar power top-ups. But Silca acquired Omata not to change it, but to ensure cyclists can still buy a modern, connected ride tracker, without having a big computer screen strapped to the front of their bike.(Photos/Silca)At Silca, we are obsessed with the intersection of beauty, precision, and performance. Omata [One] is a masterpiece of functional art. We acquired Omata because we believed it was a product that should continue to exist in this world. Sadly, it relies on a finite supply of legacy Seiko components; so, each unit carries the weight of rarity. By bringing hand-assembly to our Indianapolis facility, we are ensuring each of these stunning instruments is tested for lasting performance. Josh Poertner, Silca CEOWhats new since we last caught up with the Omata One?The biggest shift here is that the new Silca Omata computer is now being assembled at Silcas US headquarters in Indiana vs. Oulu, Finland for the original device.There are a few updates since we first covered it, although most of these have been around for a while. The biggest there is that a couple of years after its debut, Omata added compatibility with most modern sensors like heart rate, cadence, power via a connected iOS app so you could track more data in the background. Silca has also apparently redesigned the Omatas internal circuit board, battery, and outer housing to modernize the hardware a bit. One functional improvement is upgraded weatherproofing, using a new triple-barrier lip seal for the devices rotating outer bezel and the addition of a Gore-Tex membrane over its barometric pressure sensor to keep moisture out. It also means the new device only connects to ANT+ sensors no no more Bluetooth compatibility.The housing also now gets a new versatile square mounting cleat that makes it compatible with both Garmin & Wahoo interfaces, so you can use the favorite mount you already have on your bike(s). Plus, Silca will let you pick one of their 3D-printed titanium Chisela computer mounts for free when you buy a new Omata.What stays the same?Mostly though, Silca hasnt messed with it. Its effectively still the exact same mechatronic cycling computer, i.e. a fully digital GPS device that converts electronic ride tracking data into the mechanical movement of the arms of its analog face. No smartphone notifications or live mapping. Just a simple dial showing current speed, ride distance, accumulated elevation, and ride duration.Tech detailscustom analog watch-style display of current ride statsSeiko-precision mechatronic display of electronic ride dataride data exported as .FIT filebespoke Omata Custom Numerals font for clear visibilitymachined 6063 aluminum housingmetric (dark gray) or imperial (white) units of measure63mm diameter x 17mm thick x 83gmulti-channel GPS trackingon-board accelerometer, barometric pressure & temperature sensorsANT+ connectivity only (no BLE sensors)iOS-only (Apple iPhone) connected compatibility17-hour ride timeUSB-C rechargeablecompatible with Garmin & Wahoo mountshand-assembled in Indianapolis, IN, USASilca Omata cycling computer Pricing, options & availabilityExplaining that only a finite supply of the discontinued legacy Japanese mechatronic Seiko movements at the heart of the analog cycling computer exist, Silca says the updated Omata will remain strictly a limited edition. You can still get one of the new US-made computers, though, in either a white imperial units face or a dark gray metric face. But you can only buy it in the United States. Sorry, international Silca shoppers. The new Silca-made Omata cycling computer sells for $800, which also includes a Silca Chisela 3D-printed titanium mount of your choice, to best fit your bikes cockpit setup.Snap yours up today before they disappear!Silca.cc

As gravel and endurance bikes have evolved, the all-road bike has fallen by the wayside. However, Steamboat Colorado titanium specialist Moots is out to prove theres still a place for a go-anywhere road bike, unveiling the all-new County Line today.With gravel bikes sporting 55mm+ tyre clearances now the norm, and endurance and road race bikes gaining clearances of 30-35mm, the all-road bike is in danger of becoming a thing of the past.Moots sees things differently, though. The Vamoots road bike line was designed to meet purist road bike needs, alongside recently revamped gravel bikes such as the Routt and the rugged Scrambler.Built for 38s The new Moots County Line is designed to be ridden everywhere. Moots Moots says the County Line was conceived to run 38mm road tyres in order to create a bike that can "move naturally between pavement and fast well-maintained dirt roads". The County Line has internally routed hoses. Moots The key elements are more tyre clearance, better stability and more control than a traditional road bike. However, the County Line retains the slender proportions of a road bike, along with road gearing and a bias in favour of on-road performance. Moots says this is something modern gravel bikes can't offer.Steamboat special Smooth gravel roads are the County Line's bread and butter. Moots Moots says the County Line is inspired by the team's local rides in Colorado. The roads around Steamboat rarely stay one thing for long," Moots explains. "A ride can start on pavement, then turn to miles of smooth county-road gravel. Before finishing back on asphalt, without ever feeling like a gravel ride.The 38mm tyre optimisation saves the weight of large-volume gravel tyres, yet it retains the grip and comfort gains larger tyres bring.The bike is designed to run road gearing, and by keeping both the wheelbase and chainstays (42.5cm) relatively short, it makes for a sharp-handling, efficient road option. The new County Line all-road carbon fork has ample clearance for 38mm tyres and fenders. Moots What you need to know about the Moots County Line 1x or 2x drivetrains: the frame supports 1x and 2x drivetrains with clearance for a 50-tooth 1x or 52/36 2x setup. Integrated design: a new carbon all-road fork uses a D-shaped steerer, enabling cables and hoses to be routed internally. All-road geometry: size-specific fork offsets of 45mm and 52mm help keep the handling balanced across all sizes. Loaded with extras: mudguard/fender mounts, traditional rack mounts and a third set of bottle bosses make the County Line endurance- and touring-ready. Titanium frame: straight-gauge 3/2.5v titanium tubing shaped to Moots' specification. A lightweight RSL version will launch in early 2027 with double-butted RSL tubing. Four builds and two frames A lightweight machined UDH dropout and fender/rack mounts. Moots The County Line will be available in four builds, with either the standard or RSL tubeset, all-SRAM in both 1x and 2x options.The frameset will also be available in standard and RSL form.Prices start at $5,499 for the frame, rising to $12,999 for the SRAM Red AXS 2x version. The new Moots County Line is available in 1x and 2x builds. Moots County Line frameset: $5,499 County Line RSL frameset: $TBC, 2027 County Line Force 1x: $9,999 County Line Force 2x: $10,599 County Line Red 1x: $12,499 County Line Red 2x: $12,999 County Line RSL Force 1x: $TBC, 2027 County Line RSL Force 2x: $TBC, 2027 County Line RSL Red 1x: $TBC, 2027 County Line RSL Red 2x: $TBC, 2027

As of this week, cyclists caught going through red lights in the City of London could find themselves facing a snap decision: pay a 50 on-the-spot fine, or stand in a sin bin and watch a short two-minute video, designed to make them reflect on their actions. Its a no-brainer. No one in their right mind would pony up fifty notes when they could spend two-minutes watching a little cautionary movie, surely? (It takes longer than that for the officer to fill out the paperwork for the fine). And, predictably, every single one of the 70 velo-villains nabbed by the City of London Police force for hopping the lights on Wednesday, when the new initiative was first rolled out, went for the video option.But what does this video show, and will it be effective in reducing behaviour that the police say has become endemic on the capitals streets? Well, Ive seen it. And Ill never jump a light again. To be honest, Im a pretty well-behaved cyclist these days anyway (of course I am, I work for Cycling Weekly), and I also now live in a place where both traffic lights and police officers are few and far between. But there was a time when I lived in London and worked as a bike courier, and Id routinely go through dozens of red lights every day.It is, in essence, a selfish act to run a red light, and we all know it's a bad thing to do. Youre basically saying that your time is more important than everyone elses. And this alternative punishment is very much of the were not angry with you, were just disappointed school of disciplinary psychology, which tends to be much more effective. "We issue cyclists fixed penalty notices for going through red lights in the city on a daily basis," explains Sergeant Stuart Ford, Cycle Team lead at City of London Police. "Riders running reds is one of our biggest complaints, from residents, people visiting and working in the city. We have to act on what they're saying. And it is a bit of a nightmare out there for pedestrians and vulnerable road users. "Between 8 and 9 in the morning, in the city, we get 20,000 cyclists come through. We're only a small team, there's only ten of us, if we're all out in the morning, we might issue 20 tickets. That's nothing. That's not going to get the message out there. "So I came up with this 3E approach, which is engage with people, educate them, and enforce the law. The whole point is I want to get some sort of behavioural change. A lot of cyclists are very good and they abide by the laws of the road, but some dont. Rather than issuing tickets all the time, I wanted to come up with something else, where we give them an opportunity to watch a safety video and give them a bit of a warning if you like."Sergeant Ford says he doesnt especially love the term 'sin bin', and prefers to call it a "cycle time out zone". Riders who agree to watch the video stand on a five-by-two-metre mat with a picture of a bike on it, surrounded by a police logo, and watch the short film."I've been a cyclist my whole life," says Ford. "I've got four or five road bikes at home myself. It's what I do. I like bikes. So I'm coming from a good place. I don't want to be penalising people that want to do the right thing getting on their bikes. I just want people to abide by the law."(Image credit: Getty Images)The video shows the potential consequences of your selfish actions on others, in this case people with sight impairment, some of whom describe frightening encounters with pedal-powered light jumpers. Its filmed in a way that encourages empathy with these people, and for good measure, one of them invokes the physical and mental damage that could be done to their guide dog which is a complete clincher and what that would mean for their freedom. Youd have to be monster if having this perspective thrust in your face didnt make you stop and think, or in this case, think and stop. Watching the video, I found myself regretting all those red-light indiscretions of years gone by. I never ran over any assistance labradors (seriously, I didnt dont write in), but it could have happened loads of times.There are counterpoints to be made, about drivers behaviour, but its hard to argue with the basic premiss of Ford's thinking, and most cycling-oriented orientated organisations are in agreement. "Cyclists are not really the issue of safety on the roads, that's more cars and driving and speeding, so it's kind of fiddling whilst Rome burns on safety grounds," says Tom Fyans from the London Cycling Campaign. But we are broadly supportive. We think it's an innovative way of getting through to cyclists that they've got responsibilities on the road to keep people safe other than themselves. "There are more bikes than cars now in the City of London, so the situation is a little different there to elsewhere. And if it gets cyclist respecting red lights a bit more and thinking about how to stay safe on the road, and keep others safe, that's a good thing."There is another part of the video, for those perhaps lacking in empathy, which isnt for media or general public consumption, that shows real footage of a bike rider going through a red light, getting knocked off her bike, and then talking about the life-long consequences of that rash decision. Ive not seen that yet bit, and I dont intend to Ill just stop at the red lights from now on.

Tadej Pogacars absence has changed how his rivals approach some of cyclings biggest races, according to Ben Healy. An autumn without the Slovenian brought a new world champion in Brandon McNulty and ended his five-year hold on Il Lombardia, with Healy among those who sensed an opportunity long bef...

CyclistCyclist Magazine Podcast: Quoc Pham on shoes, Geraint Thomas and the Far East factoriesThis week on the Cyclist Magazine Podcast, James is joined by Quoc Pham, founder and designer of the eponymous Quoc cycling shoe brand. Before cycling, Quoc worked in fashion, running his own label, but turned his attention to making shoes in that classic way people do when they turn inventor: he found himself commuting around London in shoes that just werent up to it, they were either functionally great but ugly, or nice looking but out of their depth in toeclips on a fixie so he set about making his own. His first, a beautiful leather shoe with smooth, contoured sole called the Fixed, quickly developed a cult following in the Eroica scene, and fast forward 17 years Quoc has expanded into road and gravel, even sponsoring Geraint Thomas along the way.In this episode we chat about how that deal came about thanks in part to a personal message from Quoc; the incredibly steep learning curve that was making a pair of shoes from scratch; and how the brand-factory partnership works and how that most crucial relationship affects what kit you wear and what bike you ride, just as much as any technology advance, design team, or economic fluctuation.Chat begins at 7:52Listen to our chat with Chris Hoy on the Cyclist magazine app or wherever you get your podcastsGet the Cyclist iOS app / Get the Cyclist app on the Google Play storeThis episode is brought to you by Rouvy, the indoor riding platform that makes indoor rides look and feel real, from smashing up the Sa Calobra to group rides around Vietnam to Rouvy Fest, which this year takes place between 12th and 25th October and will include a host of special group rides including tackling Mount Teide in Tenerife, riding the shores and hill of Lake Garda in Italy and puffing up dust on the Strade Bianche chalky road of Tuscany. All this plus special ride guests telling stories and answering questions as they pedal, challenges, rewards and giveaways, and the Rouvy Fest Race, a huge single race where the competitive spirit meets fun and inclusive vibes. See Rouvy.com for more details, including how to sign up for a free month using the code KEEPITREALCYCLISTThe post Cyclist Magazine Podcast: Quoc Pham on shoes, Geraint Thomas and the Far East factories appeared first on Cyclist.